Party Like It's 999!

I am not sure if Grendel's Mother's termination, Grendel's posthumous beheading, common people's illness, death, and fear of apocalypse, and Humbaba's demise constitutes a party-like atmosphere. However, we are willing to celebrate anything in literary history. On a related sidebar, we need to think of a theme for our "monster" celebration next week while we are reading Grendel's own side of that pesky Beowulf interloper.

Discussion-wise, kudos to everyone for upping their interpretation to AP-level quality. I heard literary devices, characterization, and ideologies in every single observation. In addition, you supported your ideas with line references and direct quotes and explained the significance of your evidence. As we moved into Gilgamesh and our group analysis, I witnessed multiple participants use evidence from various points of the text to support one idea. Keep with this game plan when you take notes, participate, and write. At AP-level, you need all those components to show mature, thorough interpretation.

For Friday's shortened class, you will need to read The Iliad selection from the textbook and learn the fate of honorable Hector and beautiful Achilles -- or at least that is how the introductory material describes these two mythical figures. More post-its await!

One last item of note - 

While we are not reading Hamlet in this class, many of you have read the play, seen the film, or overheard the gist from hearing Mr. Bertram's class act it out next door. 

On October 15, Benedict Cumberbatch's version from the National Theatre in London will be broadcast here in many local theaters. Proceed to this link if you would like to learn more about this production: http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlout10-hamlet . I saw Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller play Victor Frankenstein and the Creature last year, and the National Theatre Live productions are vivid, memorable, unique takes on classical literature. 

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